Safety live line electrical connector



March 5, 1946. T. ONEIL.

SAFETY LIVE LDINE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed March 27, 1944 2 Sheets- Sheet l FIGA.

INVENTOR.

THOMAS O'NEIL ATTORNEYS March 5, 1946. T. ONEIL 2,396,119

- SAFETY LIVE LINE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed March 27, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. THOMAS O'NEIL ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 5, 1946 SAFETY LIVE LINE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Thomas O'Neil, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Gemmer Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Michigan Application March 27, 1944, Serial No. 528,291

Claims.

The invention relates to electrical connectors designed for use in forming a service connection with a live line.

It is the object of the invention to obtain a construction which will conform to all of the underwriters requirements and which is capable of being very quickly attached to any live line to establish good conduction therewith while maintaining full insulation. To this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a cross section through the connector showing the same as engaged with a live line;

Fi 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of one of the elements of the connector;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of another element;

Fig. '7 is a section on line 1-1, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8--8, Fig. 6.

A is the live line cable which is provided with an insulator sheathing B and a stranded con ductor C within the same; My improved connector comprises a pair of notched plates D and E formed of dielectric material and adapted to embrace opposite sides of the cable. These plates are secured to each other by a U-shaped member F having threaded portions F and nuts G engaging 'said threaded portions. The member E has grooves E in its opposite sides for receiving the parallel legs of the member F and for retaining engagement herewith. It also has a central aperture E extending therethrough for receiving the contact point. The member D has parallel entrance slots D opening from the same side so as to permit of laterally engaging this member with the member F and without the necessity of disengaging the nuts G. Another member H also formed of dielectric material is arranged beneath the member E being provided with a groove H for receiving the sides and bottom portion of the U-shaped member F. In the upper face of this member H is a substantially spiral groove H for receiving the inner end portion of an insulated conductor I. There is also a. central recess H in registration with the aperture E in the member E and a radial groove H between the groove H and recess H preferably extending on the opposite sides of said recess. J is a. connector contact which has a cylindrical portion J for fitting within the recess E. a head portion J of slightly greater diameter engaging the recess 1-1 and provided with a spherical lower face J and a tapering point portion J for penetrating the insulation B of the line conductor A and projecting into the stranded conductor C thereof.

In assembling the parts of the connector the inner end portion of the insulated conductor I is bared and this bared portion 1' is placed in the radial groove H of the member H while the insulated portion extends around the spiral groove H and out therefrom. The member J which has been previously engaged with the member E has its head portion J" now placed within the recess H into contact with the bared portion 1' of the conductor I. The member E is then placed on one side of the cable A with the U-shaped member F straddling the cable after which the member D on the opposite side of the cable is laterally engaged with the member F. The nuts G are then screwed down which will force the point J through the insulation B and into the stranded conductor C. This will also force the member J downward so that its spherical face J 3 will clamp against the bared portion 1' of the conductor to form good electrical connection therewith. This will complete the insulation and the conductor I may be led to any point where the current is to be used. It will be noted that the spiral groove H for the insulated conductor I together with the radial groove for the portion I of said conductor will form an effective lock which precludes any possibility of disengaging the conductor by a pulling stress exerted thereon. Consequently, after clamping by the nuts G the connector is securely attached to the cable mechanically and electrically while maintaining complete insulation of all conducting elements. The members D, E and H may be molded from any suitable dielectrio plastic material.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A safety connector for engagement with insulated stranded conductor live electrical lines comprising three members formed of dielectric material, two of said members having opposed transverse concave grooves therein with a central aperture through one and the third member having a face contacting the outer face of the apertured member provided with a recess therein registering with said aperture and a winding groove extending outward from said recess, an insulated conductor having a bared end portion engaging said recess with the insulated portion engaging said winding groove and extending outward therefrom, a contact having a portion engaging said aperture, a portion engaging said recess in contact with the bared conductor therein and a conical portion extending into the transverse groove of the apertured member, and means for clamping all of said members together with the transversely grooved members on opposite sides of the live line whereby the conical portion of said contact member will penetrate the insular tion of said live line and into the stranded conductor thereof and the opposite end of said contact member will press against the bared portion of said conductor to form good electrical connection therewith.

2. A safety connector for engagement with in= sulated stranded conductor live electrical lines comprising a U-shape clamping member with threaded legs and nuts adjustable on said legs, three members formed of dielectric material, two of said members being grooved to engage and be embraced by said U-shape member and having contacting faces with a winding groove in one face leading outward from a central recess, the non-contacting face of the inner one of said two members having a groove therein transverse to the plane of said U-shape member to engage one side of said live line, the third member having an opposed transverse groove for engaging the opposite side of the live line and being provided with parallel entrance slots for laterally engaging said U-shape member, an insulated conductor having a bared end portion extending across said central recess and an insulated portion extending therefrom in said winding groove and outward therefrom, a contact member in said recess having a conical point projecting into the adjacent transverse groove whereby said three members may be clamped by the screwing down of said nuts, the clamping ressure forcing the point of said contact through the insulation and into the stranded portion of said live line and the reaction against said contact pressing the same against said bared conductor to form good electrical connection therewith.

3. A safety connector for engagement with insulated stranded conductor live electrical lines comprising a U-shape clamping member having threaded legs and nuts adjustable on the same, three members formed of dielectric material two of said members havinggrooves in the opposite sides thereof for receiving the legs of said iJ-shape member, said two members having contacting faces, the face of the outer member having a central recess therein, a radial groove connecting with said recess and a substantially spiral groove leading outward from said radial groove, the inner of said two members having a groove in its inner face transverse to the plane of said U-shape member and a central aperture in registration with said central recess, an insulated conductor having.

a bared end portion located in said radial groove to extend across said recess and an insulated portion extending in said spiral groove and outward therefrom, a contact member in said central aperture and registering recess having a conical point extending into the adjacent transverse groove, the third insulated member having an oppositely facing transverse groove and parallel entrance slots for laterally engaging said member with the legs of said ti -shaped member, whereby said-transversely grooved members may be engaged with opposite sides or the live line and clamped thereon by said U-shape member and nuts, the clamping pressure forcing said conical point through the insulation and into the stranded conductor portion of said line and the reaction pressing said contact member against the bared portion of said conductor to clamp the same and form good electrical connection therewith, said spiral groove holding said conductor against detachment.

4. A safety connector for engagement with insuiated stranded conductor live electrical lines comprising three members formed of dielectric material, clamping means therefor, a contact member having a pointed portion and an insulated service conductor having a bared end portion, two of said dielectric members being en gageable with opposite sides of said live line and one of the two having a central aperture for receiving said contact member, the third dielectrie member being adjacent to the apertured member and having a spiral groove therein for receiving said service conductor, a recess at the center and a radial groove connecting said spiral groove with said recess for receiving the bared portion of said conductor whereby the pressure of said clamping means will force the pointed portion of said contact through the insulation and into the stranded conducting portion of said live line and the reaction on said contact member will force the same into said central recess against the bared portion of said conductor to form good electrical connection therewith.

5. A safety connector for engagement with insuiated stranded conductor live electrical lines comprising three members formed of dielectric material, a U-shape member embracing said members and engaging grooves therein and having clamping nuts threadedly engaging the legs of said U-shape member, a contact member having a pointed end portion, and an insulated service conductor having a bared end portion, two of said dielectric members being engageable with opposite sides of said live line, the outer one of the two having parallel slots therein for lateral engagement with said U-shape member and the other member of the two having a central aperture for receiving said contact member, the third dielectric member being adjacent to the apertured member and provided with a spiral groove therein for receiving said service conductor, a central recess for receiving the outer end of said contact member and a radial groove connecting said spiral groove and recess for receiving the bared portion of said conductor whereby the screwing-down of said nuts will clamp said dielectric members pressing the pointed portion of said contact member through the insulation and into the stranded conductor portion of said live line, and the reaction on said contact willpress the outer end of the same against the bared portion of said conductor to form good electrical contact therewith.

THOMAS ONEIL. 

